Immigration Bureau, The police opened a center to prevent and reduce road accidents during the Songkran festival, 10-18 Apr., advising motorists to use the roads to rest fully. Don't drink or be merry before you leave. Police Lieutenant General Kornchai Klaiklueng, Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Chaired the meeting to open the Center for Road Accident Prevention and Reduction during the Songkran Festival. Royal Thai Police Office for the year 2024, which the center will operate from 10-18 April to drive integration with government and private agencies. Reduce risk factors for road accidents as well as law enforcement and create safety awareness among road users during 7 days of intensive control between 11-17 April. Police Lieutenant General Kornchai revealed that the Royal Thai Police will respond to government policy The goal is to reduce road accidents. Total death toll and injuries decreased by at least 5% from the average accidents of the past 3 years, which had a total average of 2,1 61 accidents, total deaths of 273, and total injuries of 2,144. In addition, the goal has been set to tighten traffic discipline. Arrest offenders on 10 main charges such as not wearing a helmet, drunk driving, and driving faster than the legal limit. Driving in violation of traffic lights, etc., with 5% more arrests compared to the average of the past 3 years. But it is not that more arrests are a good thing. The police just want to create traffic discipline for the people. Therefore, if there are fewer arrests But accidents happen rarely. The death toll is less. It means that people are starting to have traffic discipline. It is considered more successful than the number of arrests. People are asked to drive with caution, especially at the beginning of the festival on April 11 and after the festival on April 16, when there will be heavy traffic from the outbound and return trips. It is expected that the volume of vehicles returning to their hometowns will increase 3.1% more than during last year's Songkra n festival. But whether the volume of vehicles is large or small is not a concern. All police officers are happy to provide traffic facilitation services to the public. Whether it is opening a special channel or arrange a resting place at the highway police administrative point In addition, there will be strict restrictions on buses. Because if there is an accident, it will cause a lot of losses. and hope for measures to prohibit trucks from running during the time when people are traveling back and forth. The highway police will only allow vehicles transporting essential consumer goods. As for trucks transporting bricks, stones, soil, and sand, transportation must be suspended for now. Road section under construction Asked for cooperation from contractors to stop construction for now. To prevent accidents with various parts Ok on the road However, we ask that motorists use the road to rest as much as possible. Don't drink or be merry before you leave. When they reached their destination, they held a celebr ation at home. Do not come out to drive on the road for safety. As for electric vehicle users, prepare to charge the electric vehicle before leaving. Check electric vehicle charging stations along the route. and predict traffic conditions throughout the trip To prevent traffic problems from accumulating on the road in front of the electric train charging point. Source: Thai News Agency